Game apparatus



) A. P. A. VOGBLSANG.

(No Model.

GAMB APPARATUS,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A. F. ALEXANDER VOGI'LSANH, 0F I lIIInADILPHIrM PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

EPS-.CIIESICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 333,703. dated January 5, 1886.

Application Ilcd November QQ, IHN.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, A. F. ALEXANDER VOGELs.-tNG, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gaine Apparatus, of which the following is a specieation.

My invention has reference to games; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction of apparatus, which are fully sel; forth in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which forni part thereof.

Heretofore a game has been played on board of steani-ships by passengers traveling between various countries, which consisted in ehalking` upon the deck a geometrical figure divided into subdivisions, in which figures or numbers were marked, and toward which from a given distance circular pieces or disks of Wood were pushed by a suitable cue, with the purpose iu view of lodging said disks of wood within one of the subdivisions of the geometrical ligure, or with the intention of displacing an opponents disk from one of said subdivisions, or both combined.

The object ef my invention is to reduce the said game to a tangible shape in the forni of suitable portable apparatus, capable of being used in dwellings or anywhere without the neeessity of first finding a smooth surface upon which to play.

My object is also to provide the board or playing-surface with two sets of geometrical figures, so that the gaine maybe played from either end alternately, thereby overcoming the necessity of carrying the disks or blocks back to one end each time.

In the drawings, Figure l, is a plan view of my portable table-board opened and ready for use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of same on line X X when closed with the parts arranged for transportation. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the locking-bars used to retain the eues in position when the ease is packed as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. Il is a perspective view of the cue and one of the sliding blocks or disks. Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofiuy apparatus as applied to a table. Fig. 6 is a. side elevation showing my portable apparatus as applied to a stand. Fig. 7

is a cross section of same on line Y Y; and Fig. 8 is a plan view showing thc preferred relative sizes of sliding blocks and squares iu the geometrical figures.

A A are the twn parts ofthe table. andare hinged together, as at Il. 'llicy are provided with side and end rnilsll. ol'any suitable. construction to prevent the blocks bring pushed oft'the table.

The bottoms l) ot parts A A are made very smooth or polished. or are preferably covered with sinne practicall)1 smooth material-such as paper or thin eil-cloth or metallic she-.ithing-as this acts as well. and is far cheaper. A. space, d, may be left between the rails (l and the oilf-loth or polished sui-laces to give a finish. When the table is opened. the bottoms meet. and are strengthened and made to preserve a level sui-'tace by the dowels K. Each end of the floor Dis provided with a geometrical figure, E, of any desired shape, that shown heilig perhaps the best suited to the purpose, it being divided into two parts, and one of which is again subdivided into twelve parts or squares, in which figures or numbers are placed, as shown, and the other main division, which is arranged on the inner side of the figure, is marked 10 ott. This tigu re F. might be a star, shield, square, or circle, and there may be more than one division marked for reducing the score should the players blocks lodge therein, and the figures or numbers may be arranged in any other manner desired. This portable table, when closed, may be fastened by latches F and carried by a handle, G, and the eues L maybe retained in place by twoloekingbars, H, having notches h and pins or dowels la', which latter tit into holes i in the iloor D, and thus retain the bars in position. The hinged end is closed by a similar piece, J, without notches. By this means the table when closed forms a box in which the eues, blocks, and counting apparatus may be placed for carriage and safety. The cue is formed of a long handle, L', having secured on its end a crescent or other shaped sliding piece, L, set at .in angle to the cue, and adapted to receive the sliding block )Lwhieh fits in the recess l in said piece U. This sliding block may be of wood, metal, or au;` other suitable material, or part of cach, and is made flat and smooth ou the bottom and preferably rounded on the top, which is suitably colored or marked. By this means a better finish is given,and the ornamentation or distinguishing features between the blocks cannot become worn oil'. rl`his gaine-table may be supported on legs, as shown in Fig. 5, in which case it can be collapsible or rigid, as desired. The same board or table shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is shown in Figs. and 7 as applied to a stand, N. in which case it is provided with grooves A', which receive strips n on stand N, and when opened may be moved to the position indicated in dotted lines, where it is evenly balanced upon the stand.

In playing the game, the sliding blocks M are placed on a given line in one Iigure E and pushed with the cue L so as to lodge in one of the squares in the other figure E, it being the object to have them enter into the squares having the highest numbers. The opponent endeavors to dislodge the blocks of the first player and place his blocks so as to count. 1f they enter the division marked 10 01T, the player loses ten points for each block there longed.

No two games are alike, and the game therefore offers as much variety as billiards. After all the blocks )I have been pushed to one end, the players, when two or three are playing, walk to that end and play to the other end, instead of picking up the blocks and carrying them back; but when four, six, or eight are playing, then half the players arrange themselves at each end, the partners being at opposite ends, and thus the game may be played without the necessity of going from one end to the other, as the blocks are shoved alternately from each end by the players there stationed.

From the foregoing it is seen that the game is reduced to a practical form for house use, and being made portable is admirably adapted to the use of tourists and those going away to summer resorts.

Vhile I prefer the construction shown, I do not limit myself to the details thereof, :1s they may be modified in various ways without departing from my invention, as, for instance, the geometrical ligure may be arranged at one end of the door only, instead of at both ends.

I am awareof the patent to Nutting, No. 191,169, of 1877, and claim nothing therein set forth or claimed.

In this application I make no specific claim to the geometrical figure, as that, when appllcd to a gaine-surface, forms subject-matter in another pending application of mine bearing even date with this, and No. 148.577.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the frames A A, hinged together at B. and having floors D, and sliding blocks M, and cues L, with the retaining-bals H and J, the former having notches for receiving and holding the cues. the said bars being removably secured within the frames A A when closed to support sain cues and blocks and close the hinged end ot said frames, substantially as and t'or the purpose specitied.

2. The table N, having strips n, in combination with the hinged game-board frames A A, having grooves A', whereby the game-board may be opened and pushed into position on the rigid table, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A cue for game apparatus, consisting of the handle L', with a pushing-block, L, having the curved recess portion Z, and which block is secured to said handle at an angle thereto, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

A. l". ALEXANDER YOGELSAXG.

W'itnesses:

WILLIAM C. MAYNE, R. M. HUNTER. 

